7 News Belize

Young Mothers Complete Parenting Workshop
posted (October 16, 2008)

Three weeks ago, we reported on the goal of fourteen young mothers to become better parents. The challenge was initiated by the Belize Police Department’s Community Policing Unit in collaboration with Youth Enhancement Services. From September thirtieth these women have been learning as much as they can about issues that confront them on a daily basis like how to communicate with my child and deal with the stresses of parenthood. Well we are happy to report that most of the participants did complete the intense training. We caught up with the workshop facilitator Myrna Manzanares and one of the participants fifteen year old Lorilee Wade.

Jacqueline Godwin,
What are some of the key issues that these young mothers had to confront?

Myrna Manzanares, Facilitator
“Well I think the first one is the behavior of children, being able to work with the different behavior patterns that children have but also be able to listen and be consistent with when they are responding to the children.”

Lorilee Wade, Mother at age 15
“Really it is complicated when the child starts to give trouble and fuss at night.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
You decided to attend this parenting workshop, how good has it been?

Lorilee Wade,
“Well it helps me to learn more about parenting and how to deal with her when she is giving trouble.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
So this workshop is something you would encourage young mothers like yourself to attend?

Lorilee Wade,
“Yes.”

Myrna Manzanares,
“Unfortunately we had a couple of young men who didn’t stay for whatever reasons but it would have been so nice to have them because this last day we are talking about fathers make a difference and they do make a difference and they don’t recognize that. They make a difference in the lives of their children. I don’t care if you can’t give them anything, but if you have a presence, if you can talk to them once in a while, if you can tell them if she is a daughter she is beautiful or tell your son positive things it makes a difference and that is what we don’t have.”

The parenting workshop was funded by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA and the Belize Police Department.

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